CMCA Introduces Updated Logo

The Colorado Motor Carriers Association is enhancing its organization image with a new logo that features a modern tractor trailer and updated type style. Over the next few months CMCA will be replacing letterhead, brochures and images on this website to reflect the new look.

Trucking Industry Urges Congress to Allow Truck Productivity Gains

The trucking industry today asked Congress to review federal laws that limit the ability of the trucking industry to increase productivity and more efficiently and safely move the U.S. economy.

Testifying on behalf of the American Trucking Associations before the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Michael Smid, President and CEO of YRC North American Transportation, said fundamental changes that permit increased trucking industry productivity will reduce congestion on the nation’s highways, reduce energy use, and improve highway safety and air quality.

“Over the previous quarter century, the trucking industry has made continuous improvements that have allowed its customers to significantly reduce inventories and create manufacturing and supply chain efficiencies that have saved the U.S. economy billions of dollars, increased salaries, slowed consumer price increases and created countless jobs,” Smid said. “Any disruption to the movement of freight on our nation’s highway systems will jeopardize these gains.”

Federal law that governs truck productivity has not been updated since 1982. Yet since then, truck tonnage has increased nearly 40 percent, driven by a 32 percent increase in the U.S. population and 82 percent growth in Gross Domestic Product.

While other freight transportation modes have adapted their equipment to meet these growing demands, the capacity of the trucking industry has remained virtually stagnant.

Under current federal and state truck regulations, the growth in freight demand will require a 41 percent increase in the number of commercial trucks, adding nearly 3 million trucks to the nation’s roads, Smid testified.

Smid highlighted that use of more productive trucks will limit the need for additional trucks as well as allow Congress and states to avoid some of the significant costs required to improve highway conditions and to address highway congestion.

the chairman of the House transportation committee said he opposed longer combination vehicles and had doubts about raising weight limits.

Colorado Unemployment Climbing

Colorado Unemployment has hit 5.1%, the highest rate since 2005, according to State Officials at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.  The 5.1% rate is up from 4.9% in May and 3.7% in June 2007.  Some 2.6 million Coloradans are currently employed, up about 39.100 from a year ago.

Unemployment typically rises in June as student workers enter the job market, but job growth in Colorado also has slowed along with the national economy and weakness in construction, financial services, and manufacturing.

Most jobs added during June were in leisure and hospitality as tourism season geared up, the labor department said, with the sector adding about 16,300 jobs.

National unemployment has been holding steady at 5.5%

2008 U. S. Overall Petroleum Consumption Expected to  Decline

While World oil consumption will grow by 1.2 million barrels per day in 2008, U.S. consumption is expected to decline by about 190,000 barrels per day as a result of the economic slowdown and high petroleum prices.   After accounting for increased ethanol use in the U.S., the overall U.S. petroleum consumption will actually drop by 330,000 barrels per day in 2008 according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The world oil supply system is operating at near capacity and is vulnerable to both actual and perceived supply disruptions, said EIA.  World oil consumption is outstripping growth in non-OPEC production by over 1 million bbl/day.   OPEC countries have no plans to increase production this summer, but may make adjustments at their next scheduled meeting in September.

Almost all of the consumption growth in 2008 is coming from China, Russia, Middle Eastern oil producing countries, Brazil and India.  Europe is also seeing some growth in consumption to offset weather related consumption drops in 2007.

ATA's Highway Watch Program Suspended

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has elected to fund another trucking security program. As a result, the Highway Watch program has been suspended while American Trucking Associations explores options for continuing the Highway Watch program in some manner into the future.

Similarly, the Highway Watch call center has been suspended. Incident reports are no longer being processed by the call center. If you have an emergency-related call, please dial 9-1-1. If you are calling to report a suspicious security event, please call the TSA National Operations Center toll-free at 866-615-5150.

TSA expects to establish a new full-service highway security call center soon.

 

Need to Register for Online Training?

Contact Tracy Sakaguchi, CMCA manager of member services or call (303) 433-3375.  Tracy will sign you up and provide the CMCA ID and password needed to enter the online training site.   Once you are ready, click the access button to link to the training site.

Western Slope Meeting, July 31, 2008

The next Western Slope meeting will cover a variety of topics including: DOT drug and alcohol compliance, Mesa county pilot car update, driver fatigue issues, IFTA, load securement, vehicle inspections, and other regulatory issues including the hours of service exemption for oil field haulers.

The meeting will be held at:
Wagner Equipment,
2322 I-70 Frontage Rd., Grand Junction, CO

Please RSVP to Tracy at 303-477-6977. Click here for the RSVP form.

West Slope Newsletter is available here. Click above link.

 

2008 Roadeo Winners Named

This year’s Colorado Truck Driving Championships were a major success with 220 drivers competiting.   Some 400 spectators were at the event and 143 volunteers helped keep things rolling.  

Excellent weather kept spirts high a the Adams County fairgrounds.  Click here for a complete list of the winners for each event.   First place winners are as follows:

Straight Truck:
Thomas Holman,
USF Reddaway  

Three Axle Van:
Wade Duerksen,
USF Reddaway

Four Axle Van
Robert Williams,
Yellow Transportation

Five Axle Van
J. Craig Bonds,
Wal*Mart Transportation

Flatbed
Virgil Kruger,
Concrete Express

Tank Truck
Weldon Runnels,
Wal*Mart Transportation

Sleeper Berth
Gary Plant,
Wal*Mart Transportation

Twin Trailers
Lyle Eaton,
ConWay Freight

Leo Wozniak Professionalism Award:  Jerry Joyner, Wal*Mart Transportation

Rookie of the Year:
Frank Schiola,
USF Reddaway

Team Trophy:        
Sysco Denver